Dear Neighbors, 

It was a painful summer in our beloved state of Minnesota. We are still reeling from the loss of our caucus leader Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark at the hands of a senseless political assassination. Our community is still mourning the tragedy at Annunciation Catholic Church, which injured dozens of students and took the lives of Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski. This senseless loss of life can only be met with bold and swift action, and I’ve heard from so many members of our community who join in this demand for change.  

I support the Governor’s call for a special session to pass meaningful gun violence prevention measures, including banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. For a special session to have the meaningful outcomes Minnesotans want, Republicans have to come to the table for a serious conversation about guns. If Republicans refuse to stand with the Minnesotans demanding change, they should all have the courage to say so outright. 

We need community to continue to push this work forward. That's why I’ll be joining Sen. Zaynab Mohamed and Rep. Emma Greenman for a Community Conversation on gun violence prevention in South Minneapolis next Thursday, October 9, from 5:30-7pm.  

We'll be joined by community leaders, gun violence prevention advocates, and medical professionals who will share their perspectives on gun violence in our country and potential paths forward. There will also be time to share questions and ideas about policy and community-based approaches to prevent gun violence.  

Please RSVP using this link. We'll send the location information to everyone who registers in advance of the event. This event is open to our South Minneapolis community. 

If you aren’t able to make it, or have friends, family, and community around the state who want to make their voice heard, please fill out this form collecting the stories of Minnesotans impacted by gun violence. Together, we can ensure Minnesotans’ voices are heard as we push for stronger laws. 

We hope to see you there.  

Please continue to reach out anytime if you need assistance or have questions at [email protected] or 651-297-7087. You can also follow my Facebook page.  

In community, 

Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura 

Minnesota House of Representatives